A painful disease is the one suffered by King Felipe VI of Spain, 55. Although, like his wife, Queen Letizia, the king tries to take the utmost care of every detail of his appearance, on more than one occasion it has been possible to see the after-effects of the ailment with which he has to deal.
In addition to suffering from narcolepsy, a disorder that causes permanent sleepiness no matter where he is, the Spanish head of state also suffers from onychophagia.
What is onychophagia, the disease King Felipe suffers from in his hands?
Onychophagia is the name given to the compulsive habit of nail biting. People with this condition cannot control it and, in some cases, can cause wounds, lose their nails completely or cause serious infections.
According to psychology, the development of onychophagia can be caused by different factors such as:
- Anxiety.
- Stress.
- Drastic changes in life such as deaths or separations.
- Frustration, anger, shyness, low self-esteem.
- People with a tendency to worry or perfectionists.
According to Spanish portals, the monarch has been suffering from this condition for two years. In some official engagements, the father of Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia has appeared with bandages on his fingers to hide the wounds he causes himself, although he has also worn his fingers uncovered.
